Fur cleaning apparatus



Sept. 11, 1945. x, DUBAY I 2,384,458

FUR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l COMPRESSED I All? 98 J v 275 I m OR; (A EANER EEO MaTOR LZA s, s s v s o BRUSH DRIVE Merck COMPRESSED sol. VENT 5 FEEDL/NE' 30' I z3zy, I 238 H0, 240 178 5 y I a I 1 1 I 'l 121-- I77 I 23 237 /IVVENTOE ,ANK/\.DUBAY F/e. m

3 W W m ATTOENEY6 Sept. 11, 1945.

x. DUBAY 2,384,458

FUR CLEANING APPARATUS V Filed March e, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet. 2

[vvgwroe FeA/v/r X. 005A Y ATTOENEYJ Patented Sept. 11, 1945 urrso STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,384,458 FUR CLEANING APPARATUS X. Dubay, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 6, 1943, Serial No. 478,219

8 Claims.

invention elates to apparatus for cleannlarly to apparatus for cleanand the like. fur garments has heretofore either by one or the other of lures. lnone procedure, ments are ripped out and ment is subjected to a fur cleaning machine us Mr type wherein the entire gartogether with other fur gare. dry or moistened granular cleanmg compound. Variou granular cleaning compounds ar used, v m, sawdust, corn meal, comminuted soles, and the like. This method of cleaning is in most irstances the best present method available inasmuch as the fur is tumbled an a considerable quantity of dry or wet detergent. However, there are disadvantages in the proce ure. It is expen Lve, due to the fact that labor is involved in ripping out and afterwards sewing in the linings of the garments. This is all hand "work and, hence, considerably adds to the ersll cost of cleaning. Furthermore, the clea ng operation does not distinguish between areas o the fur soiled to varying degrees and, as a con ens-e, it is necessary to continue the ng) operation the most -e Eur have been cleaned or otherwise simply to clean .(tumble) until the broad areas of the fur are cleaned, and terminate the cleaning ope ation without in fact removing all of the dirt from the dirtiest portions. A further disadvantage is the relatively large amount of wear that is given to the fur in the tumbling operation. Due to the fact that in tumbling, the cleaning is accomplished by mutual attrition of numerous pieces of fur and heat is generated thereby, it frequently happens that the fur, or rather portions of the fur garment, 'may be seriously deteriorated. Not. the least of the disadvantages is the fact that the fur cleaning apparatus is of large size and is heavy, and requires a large capital investment and considerable fioor space. As a consequence, the tumbling method of fur cleaning cannot be carried out in the small fur shops. In some instances, in attempting to economize, furriers attempt to clean the whole fur garment without first. removing the lining. The granular detergent which works into the garment through rips and scams, lodges in the hem and ends, and is difficult if not impossible to remove. Removal involves costly hand labor.

The other common procedure for cleaning fur arments is the so-called "hand method. This consists in hand application of a. dry or moist detergent to a fur garment (from which the lining is not usually removed). The dry detergent is applied and rubbed by hand and is then beaten out. This method is very unsatisfactory from the standpoint of. cost in that the process is very costly it done thoroughly. in many instances, the cost l5 greater than that or cleaning. This method 15 adaptable to cstanhsnments but the results are haphazard 5": they depend upon the slats, the operator, and in the maJority of operations the amount. oi cleaning which actuahy takes place 35 ncgligiole. in addition, hand cleaning methods are undesirable cue to operator fatigue.

It is the object of the present. invention to provide an apparatus zor cleaning 3. :ur garment wmcn is capable of being carried out in small or large Iur cleaning estechshmenrs and by elimihating guess won; it is capable or producing excellent cleaning results. It is a Iurtner cuject cf the invention to provide fur cleaning apparatus wherein the degree of cleaning my sonveniently be varied so that exceptionally dirty spots of the garments, such as collars, cufis, elbows and the like, may be treated selectively for the removal of adherent dirt without treatment of adjacent, less dirty, areas.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus wherein the cleaning action may be accomplished by means of a cry, granular detergent, a moistened granular detergent or by means of any one of a number of fluid solvents, separately or in combination; and to provide facilities for the convenient removal of the detergent after the cleaning operations have been accomplished.

A further object is to provide apparatus for positive cleaning of furs and fur garments, wherein the hair of the fur is subjected to the controlled action of multiple brushes and every hair is contacted by brush action with a sweeping and scraping action. In utilizing the apparatus of the invention, matted sections of fur are combed out by the bristles and at the same time the bristles drive granular and liquid detergents to the bottom of the pelt. The complete hair from top to bottom is reached by the cleanin action of the brushes revolving in opposite directions thereby assming cleaning action on all sides of the hair filaments.

It is also an object of the inventionto provide apparatus for cleaning fur efiiciently and thoroughly without necessity for removal of the gar-. ment lining and without danger of introducing detergent into the space, between the pelt and the lining,

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus for fur cleaning utilizing labor of average skill and intelligence.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the cleaning apparatus in its entirety.

0 Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a fragmentar yiew of the left-hand part of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 but with the controller cover in place. Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the right-hand and lower portion of Figure 5 being a section at the level 5-5 in Figure 3 and the upper left-hand portion of Figure 5 being at the level 5'5' of Figure -3. Figure 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 taken along the lines 88 of Figure 5. In Figures 3 and 6, the bristle wall has been omitted behind the section line 6-6, in the interests of clarity. Figures 7, '7 and '7 are a series of sectional views takenalong the lines 1, 1 and 1 of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the injector apparatus of Figure 1. v

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the vacuum control apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 10 is a fragmentary view partly in section of a portion of a modified form of solvent injections and air blast apparatus. Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 10. Throughout the drawings, corresponding numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated the entire system which comprises an operator manipulated cleaning tool, generally designated I, which is constructed so as to be readily movable over the surface ll of the garment undergoing cleaning. The cleaning tool I is connected by a flexible cable, generally designated II, to stationary apparatus shown opposite the bracket adjacent brushes do not engage each other, there being slight clearance between the brushes as illustrated at 30, Figure 3.

The lower portion of the housing in which the brushes 20, 2!, 22 and 23 are situated is molded or cast to the shape shown in Figures 3. 5, 7-, 7 and 7. Thus at the rear part of the housing, there is considerable clearance offered by the space 3| but at each side of the housing. clearance is limited by protuberances 33 and 34 which extend into the space between brushes 20 and 2| and the space between brushes 22 and 23, respectively. Toward the front of the housing H, the clearance space gradually increases in the direction of rotation of brushes 20 and 23. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 7, there is a relatively small space 2611 between the inwardly extending portion 29 of the housing 2'! and the bristles of brush 20. The clearance is increased gradually at 25b illustrated by the section view 7 and continues to increase to a maximum at 26c toward the front of the housing as illustrated in 280 in Figure 7. In addition, it will be noted that there is a slightly rising curvature of the space 260-- III. The stationary apparatus III includes a mechanism IV for feeding dry granular detergent at a controlled rate together with suitable controls, a vacuum system, generally designated V together with its controls, and pneumatically operated fluid cleaner injectors shown under the bracket VI together with suitable controls. In addition, the stationary apparatus may include a reserve tank supply and piping system shown over the bracket VII.

Referring to Figures'l through '7, the operator manipulated cleaning tool I consists of a main casing having an upper housing portion I6 which is fitted to a lower housing portion H by a plurality of fastening screws IS. The upper and lower housings i6 and II are somewhat larger than a mans hand and have the plan view shape illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The lower housing I1 is provided with a marginal wall of relatively stiff bristles IQ of suflicientstiflness and marginal width so as to form a meansof retain}- -ing to a reasonable degree the granular and solvent detergents applied to the fur. The bristle wall l9 adds to the stability of the cleaning tool I without, however, presenting a hard surface to the fur.

"The underside of the housing I! is cutaway so as to provide a space of four brushes 20, 2i, 22 and 23 which are preferably identical so as to be interchangeable. Each of the brushes consists of a hub 25 (see Figure 6) carrying an annular plaque in which bristles are embedded by any desired brushmaking technique, some of the bristles being in a downward direction as shown at 21 and some radial as illustrated at 23. The bristles are trimmed to a diameter so that when all of the brushes are in place the bristles of 26b-26c. This has the effect of slightly elevating the granular detergent so as to toss it upwardly and backwardly into the space between brushes 20 and 23, where, due to the rotation of .the brushes (indicated by arrows in Figure 5),

the detergent is again brought to the central area between brushes 20, 2|, 22 and 23. In this way, the detergent is recirculated and reworked into and through the fur, so as to absorb and remove a maximum amount of dirt.

In this connection, it may be noted that the rotation of the brushes, illustrated by the arrows, is such that brushes 2| and 22 tend to throw the detergent forwardly along the center line CL to the center space I0, whereas brushes 20 and 23,.

. thrown backwardly to the center space l0. Sim- 'ilarly detergent thrown outwardly by brushes 22 and 23 is caught by land 33 and is thrown along scroll 21 and discharged into the space between brushes 20 and 23 whence it also is projected backwardly to the center space. In this manner, the detergent is worked into the fur repeatedly for maximum effectiveness.

The lower portion of the housing is provided with four spaced journals which serve rotatably to mount four vertical brush shafts 38, 39, 40 and 41. journal 33, 34 and 35 which support shafts 39, 43 and 4|, respectively. It will be understood that a similar journal supports shaft 38. The brush shafts each extend downwardly into the hollow underspace 'of the lower housing part II, and are machined so as detachably to receive the four brushes 20, 2|, 22 and 23. Any suitable quick detachable connection may be provided so as to allow convenient removal of the brushes for cleaning and replacement. Thus each of the shafts may be provided with a key way slot 43 for receiving the corresponding key 44 of the brushes as illustrated for brush 2| at Figure 6. The shaft, in

this instance shaft 39 of brush 2|, is also provided with a ball detent 45 which is spring-pressed outwardly by spring press 46 so as to be received into the notch 41 of the brush hub. Thus, by pushing The drawings (Figures 3 and 6) show only.

the brush 2! directly upon the shaft 33 until the ball detent48 is received in the notch 41, the brush is restrained from falling downward and at the same time the key 44 in key slot 43 prevents rotation of the brush with reference .to the shaft. A similar connection is provided for each of the brushes in the cleaning tool so that they may be interchanged, if desired, for balancing the wear on the brushes. It will be noted that the brushes and 22 rotate clockwise and brushes 2| and 23 rotate counterclockwise. By exchanging the positions of brushes 20 and 2| and by exchang- I at the parts 80 and 01 are spaced from 3| and ing the positions of brushes 22 and 23, a permanent deformation of the bristles can be prevented.

The bearing journals 32, 33, 34 and 35 are conveniently constructed as an integral part of the diaphragm wall 50 of the lower portion II of'the housing and the upper housing is is likewise recessed on its underside asillustrated at 53-54, and provided with hearing recesses for receiving the upper ends of the shafts 38, 33, 40 and 4|. There is thus formed a closed gear box 58 in which there is situated a plurality of gears for driving the vertical shafts 38-4I. Thus upon shaft 30, there is mounted a gear SI which runs in mesh with a gear 52 upon shaft 39. 'The gear 52 inward extension 62 of the boss within the gear housing serves to support the end of the shaft 60 against deflection under load. It will be noted that the housing wall extends upwardly as illusportion 66. of the upper housing part I8. These matching portions are fitted with a slip-joint shown at 01 so as to be grease-tight. The portion 00 of the upper housing is a terminus of the internally formed bore 88 which extends through the upper housing portion I6 and terminates in the boss 0 I.

As shown in Figure 2, the upper housing I3 also has a conduit I2 which extends from the boss BI toward the front of the cleaning tool at 13, where it terminates adjacent the finger control generally designated 15. The upper portion of the housing I8 has a raised pad 18 which is shaped like the palm of a man's hand so that the operator's hand can rest on it with the fingers curved downwardly at the front of the unit. A loop strap is provided at I3, the strap being fastened to the palm-pad 10 by means of the screws 80. In use, the palm of I the operator's hand rests on the pad I0 and under-strap T9 with the fingers extending for- I wardly and downwardly to the controls 15.

trated at 04.

92 respectively, so as to provide channels 00 and '09 whichreceive the side flaps of a flexible rubber cover is provided with a long transverse depressed thin portion 08 and a plurality of smaller, radially arranged thin portions 08, I00, IIII and I02 which are all arranged so that the four fin-.- gers of the operator's right hand will rest upon the depressed thin portions for the selective operation of control switches thereunder. Thus, when the operator's right hand is in place upon the cleaning unit I, he may move the whole unit by virtue of the pad I8 and strap I9 about the palm of his hand and merely by pressing on the soft rubber cover 90 on the appropriate spot he may effect the desired selective operation. Thus,

if desired, one or all of the fingers may be moved forwardly upon the spot 98 for operation of the switch thereunder or, if desired, the index fingers may bridge the spots 99 and the end of'space 98- In the space below the soft rubber cover 90 there are situated a plurality of switches. Along bar switch I05 extends across the front of the machine, is pivoted at I00 and I 0'! upon the stationary blocks I08 andl09 held in place by screws 0 and III; The bar is maintained in normal elevated position by means of springs'II2, and the center portion of the bar I05 carries a switch contact I I3 which is positioned so that it engages a lower switch contact II4 when the bar is depressed. A conductor Ais connected to contact H3 and a line conductor Lo is connected to the lower contact I I4.

Similarly, switches I20, I2I, I22 and I23 are likewise mounted in spaced relation as shown in Figure 2 so as to be situated below the depressed spots 99, I00, IM and I02, respectively, of the soft rubber pad 80. The switches I20, I2I, I22

and I23 are preferably identical and hence only one need be described. Thus the switch I2I, shown in Figure 3, includes a base plate I25 which is attached to the upper casing I6 by means of a screw I28. The base plate serves as a pivot for the upper switch part I 21 which is normally maintained in raised position by means of a spring I28. The base plate carries an insulated line contact I30 and the upper portion I21 of the switch carries a contact I3I. The contact I3I is connected to a conductor 81. Y

In a like manner, the upper contacts of each of the switches I20, I22 and I23 are connected to conductors D, 81, S: and S3. The lowercontacts of each of the switches I02, I20, I2I, I22 and I23, that is to say, the lower contact II4 of switch I05, the lower contact I30 of switch I2I, and the corresponding lower contacts of the switches I20, I22 and I23 are all'connected to a power source In, the conductor ofwhich is ile lustrated in Figure l. The conductors are illustrated in single lines in Figure 2. For purposes of clarity in the drawings, all of the conductors are omitted in Figure 3, but it will be understood The side flat portions 00 and 01 of the cover reside in channels 00 and 80 and the back flap portion abuts against wall 83. The

that the conductors are nested in the space below the rubber pad and against wall 85.

Between switches I and I2I there is a rest block I which is held in place by a screw I36. The rest block is cut out at the lower back end as illustrated at I31 soas to allow convenient pas- Sage of the conductor D thereunder. A similar rest block I38 is situated between switches I2I and I22, and a rest block I39 is situated between switches I22 and I23. The rest blocks serve to support the area of the rubber cover between the spots 99, I00, IN and I02 so as to allow the operator of the instrument to apply an appreciable forceto the cleaning tool by means of his fingers without at the same time depressing the switches.

A rheostat control I 42 is positioned at the left middle portion of the upper housing I6 alongside the hand strap 19 in a position to be engaged by the operators thumb; The control I 42 may conveniently be similar to switches I20 except that in place of simple contacts for making and breaking a circuit, there is provided a variable resistance control of any suitable design for varying speed of the brush drive motor. One terminal of the rheostat control I 42 is connected by conductorB, whereas the other terminal of the rheostat is rxnnnected by means of a wire in conduit I43'to a snap switch I44 positioned at the left front part of the housing I6. The switch I44 is of the on-and-off type, and is connected to conductor L2.- At the right front part of the housing, there is provided an on-and-ofl switch I45 which is likewise connected to conductor L2 and to a conductor V for the purpose of controlling the vacuum operation of the cleaning tool I.

Thus, when the operator's hand Is in place under strap 19, the four fingers are extendable into positions so as to engage switches I05, I20, I2I and I23 for controlling the air blast (conductor A), the flow of dry cleaning material (conductor D), and the control of three different cleaning solvents, (conductors S1, S2 and S3). Additionally the thumb of the operator is in a position to depress the rheostat control switch I42 for varying the speed of the brushes (conductor B), and on-and-oif switches I44 and I45 are provided for operation by either the right or left hand of the operator for controlling the application of vacuum in the cleaning instrument (conductor V, switch I45) and for shutting oil the operation of the brushes (switch I44).

The various electrical conductors are grouped in a cable and run through the conduit 12 to a separable connection at 15 in the boss 6I. The connection 15 is engagable by a detachable coupling I which is the terminus of a multiple conductor cable I5I in conduit II.- The housing II also contains a flexible drive shaft I which terminates in coupling I56 and an open conduit I51 which terminates at the end of bore 66. The housing II is preferably of rubber so as to be reasonably flexible andis coupled to the boss 6| of the cleaning tool I by means of a collar I58 which is held in place by a plurality of screws I59 or any othersuitable fastening device. The flexible conduit 11 extends to the stationary apparatus illustrated opposite bracket III of Figure l, where the flexiblev shaft I55 branches otf and is coupled to a brush The cable I5I is illustrated as terminating in conductors La, A, S1, S2, 83, V and D; but it will be understood that the conductor B of the cable is connected to the conductor B of the drive motor. The intermediate wiring has been omitted from Figure 1 for purposes of clarity. Accordingly, when switch I44 is in the on" position and the rheostat controlle I42 is depressed, a circuit connection is established for supplying power to the brush drive motor which consequently causes the flexible shaft I55 to rotate and this, in turn, rotates the worm drive shaft 60. The gears 56 and 53 are accordingly rotated and the latter, in turn, rotate gears 54 and 52. Gear 52 in turn rotates gear 5|. The direction or rotation of the gears 5I, 52, 53 and 54 is illustrated by the arrows shown in Figure 5 and these gears in turn serve to rotate the brushes 20, 2I, 22 and 23 in the lower housing portion I1.

The open tube I51 of the conduit 11 is clamped by fastener I66 to the spout end I-of an injector and mixing casing, generally designated I10. The injector and mixing casing I10 includes a housing I1I to which funnel I12 i attached by mean of screws I13. The funnel terminates at spout I 65 and in line with a spray apparatus generally designated I16, having a spray nozzle I11, the nozzle being attached by means of screw threads I18. Air is supplied to the nozzle by means of compressed air line having an electromagnetically operated control valve I80, the two electrical conductors of which are connected to a power source L1 and to conductor A .of cable I5I The intermediate wires between conductor A of the control valve I and the cable I5I are omitted for purposes of clarity, but it will be understood that when power is supplied to L1 and L2 and when switch I05 of the cleaning tool I is depressed by any of the fingers of the operator, a circuit is 4Q'closed, valve I80 opens, and the compressed air is introduced into the spray nozzle I16 by way of pipe I19.

Liquid detergents are introduced into the spray nozzle I16 by means of the jet I83 which is connected by means of pipe I85 to a header I86. The header I86 is in turn connected by means of pipe I81 to pressure tank I90 containing solvent I and an electromagnetically operated control valve I92 is provided in pipe I81 so as to shut oil or permit flow of solvent I therethrough. The solvent tank I90 is provided with a filling inlet and with a compressed air line I96 which is controlled by a shut-off valve I93, the line I96 being connected to a header I supplied by compressed air line I98. The control valve I92 is connected in a manner similar to that described for the valve I 80- that is to say, one terminal of valve I82 is connected to the power lines L1 and the other terminal to line S1 of the cable I5I, so that when the switch I2I of the cleaning tool I is closed the valve 92 will be operated, thus allowing solvent to flow under pressure through pipes I81 and I86 and I85 to the Jet I93 where it is broken into a mist and discharged as a spray 200 into the interior of housing I10, and thence into the tunnel I12 where the spray continue into the open bore I51 of the conduit II. The spray then continues downwardly to the cleaning tool I, thence through the bores 66 and 65, and is distributed into the drive motor I60. Power is supplied to the drive v motor by two conductors, one being labeled L1 and the other B, it being understood that the terminal B of the drive motor is connected by wiring, not shown. to conductor B o! the cable I5I central area I0 between brushes 20, 2I, 22 and 28, and into the for being cleaned. The rotating brushes supply the necessary rubbing action for working the solvent detergent into the fur.

In a similar manner, solvent 2 and solvent 3 are introduced from tanks 202 and 204 by means of operator control valves 203 and 205, respectively. One terminal of valve 203 is connected to L1 and the other to line S2 of cable II which terminates in switch I22 in the cleaning tool. Similarly one terminal of valve 205 is connected to L1 and the other to line S3 of cable I5I, whence it terminates at switch I23 of the cleaning tool I. In this manner when switches I22'and I23 are operated either individually or in combination, solvents 2 and 3 are introduced into the header I33 and thence through pipe I35 into the Jet I83 where the solvent is caught and sprayed out-. wardly at 200 by the air blast and, as previously described, the spray is conducted to the cleaning tool I through the bore I51 of the conduit 11. It will be appreciated that the air blast may be used alone by operation of switch I05 or, if the operator so desires, the air blast may be used in combination with one or more of the solvents I, 2 and 3 by appropriate pressure of the operator's fingers on the areas 98, 99, I00, IM and I02.

Dry granular detergent material is introduced into the housing I through the vertical pipe 2I0 which terminates and supports the dry cleaner feeder IV. The feeder has a hopper 2| I shaped to converge downwardly at sides 2 I2 and 2I3 so as-to deposit the dry granular cleaning material in hopper 2 onto a circular plate 2I5. The plate 2| 5 is mounted upon the shaft 2" of the dry cleaner feed motor 2I9 which is of the slow rotating type, preferably a motor geared down for slow rotation of the shaft 2". Any convenient design of motor or motor and gearing may be of the spring 240 so as normally to hold the gate 232 in a position to shut off the vacuum branch 230. When it is desired to apply a vacuum to the cleaning tool, the solenoid 238 is energized, it being noted that one terminal of the solenoid is connected to the supply source L1 and the other used. One terminal of the motor 2I9 is connected to L1 and the other terminal is connected to wire D of the cable I5I which terminates and is controlled by switch I20 of the cleaning tool.

Upon pipe 2I0 there is mounted a cut-oil knife 22 I, which extends inwardly across the upper surface of the circular plate 2I5, the knife 22I being slideably adjustable in a more or less radial direction across the plate. Set-screw 222 is provided so as to lock the knife in any desired adjusted position. Thedry granular detergent is deposited in a cone shaped pile 225 upon the plate 2I5 and the pile is rotated so as to bring an edge of the pile against the cut-oil knife 22I, which, accordingly, scrapes off a regulated supply of dry cleaning material whenever the motor 2I9 is in operation. Thus the operator of the cleaning I apparatus may, by depressing the switch I20 under area 99 of the rubber pad, cause motor 2I9 to operate and thus cause a gradual feed of the dry granular detergent into the pipe 2I0 whence it falls downwardly into housing I10 where it is caught and drivenv by the air discharge 200 from In the lower portion of the funnel I12, there pipe 230.

is a branch line 230 connected to a vacuum line,

terminal V is connected to the correspondingly designated wire V of the cable I5I. The wire V of the cable terminates in switch I 45 of the cleaning tool, and thus the operator may, by closure of switch I35, cause the operation of solenoid 238,

thus opening the gate 232 and allowing the vacuum to be applied to the bore I51 of housing II. The vacuum is communicated to the space I0 between bristles 20, 2|, 22 and 23. In this way, a considerable portion of the detergent, wet and dry, may be withdrawn from the fur undergoing cleaning while the fur is brushed due to the operation of the revolving brushes. Of course, during such operation, all of the switches I05, I20, I 2!, I22 and I23 remain open, and the operators fingers may, during this period, rest upon the spaces between spots 93 and I00, etc.,-of the rubber pad so as to allow the operator to apply appropriate force to the cleaning tool without, however, closing any of the air or solvent control switches. When the vacuum is of the intermittent type, the wire V may be connected, not

only to the control solenoid 238, but also to the vacuum drive motor, so that when gate 232 is opened, an appropriate vacuum will be drawn. in

In order to supply solvents I, 2 and 3 to the operating tanks there may, if desired, be provided a filling system for introducing solvents I, 2 and 3 from the reserve supply to the corresponding operating tanks I 90, 202 and 204. The filling system is shown over the bracket VI and may conveniently be of the following form.

The reserve tank 250 for solvent I is connected by pipe 25I, controlled by valve 252, to a header 253. Reserve tank 230 is connected by pipe 23I and is controlled'by a valve 232 to the same It is contemplated that the common pump 233 and gauge 235 may serve all miscible solvents that are used for detergent purposes. Thus, cleaners naphtha may be used as solvent I and a similar miscible detergent used as solvent 2.

These may be pumped through the pipe connection shown and pump 233 and gauge 235 from tanks 250 and 230 to tanks I and 202 respectively by appropriate manipulation of valves 252, 232, 233 and 231. Thus by closing valves 252 and 231 and opening valves 252 and 233, solvent may be pumped from tank 250 to tank I90, whereas by closing valves 252 and 233 and opening valves 232 and 231 solvent may be pumped from tank 230 to tank 202. It is contemplated that for some cleaning operations a water type detergent, solvent 3, may be desired, this being transferred from the reserve tank213 through the pipe 2' which is controlled by valve 212 and thence through pump 21! and gauge 214 through pipe 210 controlled by valve 210 to the solvent 3 tank 204. In this manner, the reserve supply of solvent 3 may be transferred to the working tank 204 for solvent 3 without mixing with either of the nonaqueous solvents used for cleaning purposes.

In Figures 10 and 11, there is illustrated a modifled form of air blast nozzle and spray head, generally designated adapted for injection of the liquid detergents at atmospheric pressure rather than at the pressure of the air line. .This form has the advantages in allowing lighter construction of the solvent tanks I90 (and additional solvent tanks, not illustrated) as compared with the construction shown at I90, 202 and 204 in Figure 1. In Figure 10, housing I has the same overall shape as housing I10 of Figure 1, but the air blast nozzle I83 is in the form of a Venturi tube having a stricted orifice at IBM, and fluid inlet holes I83b. The orifice I031: has a smooth upstream approach I80d and a smooth downstream flare I 83e. Due to the restriction of area at I 83a. the static (air) pressure is reduced to less than atmospheric pressure, the energy of the air stream being represented by an extremely high velocity in the orifice. Consequently, fluid detergent in antrum I'I8a is drawn through holes I83b into the air'stream and thence projected by the air blast. The Venturi nozzle I83 is threaded into the housin I'IB as shown at '30I, and the nozzle cap "1 is threaded onto the housing at 302. When pulled down tight, the nozzle cap "1' rests upon a flange I83) of-the nozzle tube I83, and a soft gasket may be provided between the flange and nozzle, if desired.

Air is introduced into nozzle I83 via pipe I19 which is controlled by electroma netically actuated valve I80 as in Figure l. The solvent tank I00 may be 01' l ght weight construction and feeds pipe I81 which is controlled by valve I92, and is connected through pipe I85 to the antrum chamber I180; of the nozzle. Tank I90 may be filled by pipe 255 controlled by valve 260. Tank I90 has no connection to the air line I98 (comparable to pipe I96 and valve I93) but instead, is provided with a vent to atmosphere shown at 303. Thus, liquid in tank I 90' flows by gravity and due to the pull of Venturi nozzle I03 whenever valve I92 is opened. It is understood, of course, that when utilizing this type of construction, all of the solvent tanks are similarly constructed.

Many obvious variations will appear to thoseskilled in the art and are intended to be within the purview of the invention herein illustrated. described and claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for cleanin fur comprising an open bottnmed housing, a flexible marginal wall, a plurality of rotary bristle brushes journaled in said housing for-rotation about vertical axes. said brushes being spaced from each other and positioned with the bristles about level with the flexible marginal wall, gear means in said housing for simultaneously rotating the brushes, flexible shaft means for rotating the gears, a remotely situated motor connected to the flexible shaft for rotating the shaft, the housing being shaped to receive an operator's hand, remote detergent introduction apparatus and a flexible conduit connecting said apparatus and the housing, electromagnetically opera-ted means for regulating said apparatus, switch means within reach of an operator's fingers when his hand is in place on the housing for controlling said electromagnetic means, and circuit connection between the switch means and remote electromagnetic means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the flexible shaft, flexible conduit, and circuit connections are grouped in a single flexible housing.

3. An apparatus for cleaning fur comprising an operator controlled brushing tool, a flexible conduit extending thereto and fixedly mounted remote means for introducing detergents into said conduit comprising an air blast nozzle, operator controlled means for controlling the air I blast from said nozzle, and operator controlled means for selectively introducing dry and wet detergents into the conduit along with said air blast from the nozzle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further character ized in that the operator controlled means for selectively introducing dry and wet detergents into the conduit along with said air blast from the nozzle includes an operator controlled electric motor dry detergent feed for feeding a regulated supply of dry detergent into said air blast.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the operator controlled means for selectively introducing dry and wet detergents into the conduit along with said air blast from the nozzle includes operator controlled wet detergent feed means for selectively introducing any of the plurality of wet detergents into the air blast from said nozzle. 6. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the blast nozzle is situated in line with said conduit for forcing air directly thereinto.

'7. An apparatus for cleaning fur comprising an open bottomed housing having a. marginal wall, an operator handrest on the housing, said handrest being shaped to fit an operators hand for movement of the housing thereby, a plurality of brushes mounted in the open bottom of the housing for rotation about vertical axes, said brush axes being spaced laterally with respect to the operators hand when on the handrest, said brushes being provided with bottom bristles and side bristles for brushing material on which the housing is placed, opposite laterally spaced brushes being rotated in opposite directions, and scrolls formed on th inside of the marginal wall of thehousing, said scroll being curved to conform with the brush adjacent thereto and extending forwardly and slightly rising with respect to each brush, said scrolls being converged backwardly at the forward median line of the housing.

8. An apparatus of the type set forth in claim '7 further characterized in that the open bottom housing contains brushes symmetrically arranged about the median line of the housing, one pair in front and one pair in back, the rotation of said brushes being such that the bristles of contiguous portions of the front brushes move in a backward direction and the bristles of contiguous portions of the rear brushes move in a forwardly direction.

FRANK X. DUBAY. 

